Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iloilo Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iloilo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,186 per month in Makati vs $688 in Iloilo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Makati vs $1,058 in Iloilo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,428 in Iloilo, rent included.

Makati costs about 72% more than Iloilo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Iloilo are more affordable than the global median – Makati 12% lower, Iloilo 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$2.68 ₱163

154.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$20.94 ₱1,272

112.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.62 ₱220

34.81%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$1.96 ₱119

46.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.53 ₱32.04

118.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.32 ₱19.52

65.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$0.94 ₱57.3

159.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$1.72 ₱104

102.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.78 ₱108

19.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.25 ₱76.1

20.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.88 ₱53.7

27.27%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$2.20 ₱134

2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$6.04 ₱367

33.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.33 ₱263

2.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$6.80 ₱413

14.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$3.62 ₱220

24.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.19 ₱72.5

60.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$3.28 ₱199

-17.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.61 ₱98.0

36.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.67 ₱162

22.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$3.06 ₱186

-4.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.69 ₱103

-34.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.92 ₱56.1

7.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$3.21 ₱195

-11.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$5.84 ₱354

41.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.33 ₱81.0

-11.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$1.39 ₱84.4

67.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.23 ₱13.89

121.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

$5.27 ₱320

-33.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.68 ₱41.39

13.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.29 ₱17.43

-55.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.70 ₱164

34.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.15 ₱69.5

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$23.8K ₱1.4M

40.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

12.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$168 ₱10.2K

$67.2 ₱4,083

150.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.62 ₱1,677

$31.38 ₱1,905

-11.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$30.48 ₱1,851

20.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$26.89 ₱1,633

109.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.23 ₱317

48.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$320 ₱19.4K

$35.73 ₱2,169

795.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,343 ₱263.7K

76.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$44.18 ₱2,682

32.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$22.85 ₱1,388

56.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$61.5 ₱3,732

40.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$26.07 ₱1,583

380.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$234 ₱14.2K

181.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$178 ₱10.8K

121.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$353 ₱21.4K

541.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$289 ₱17.5K

249.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$3,693 ₱224.2K

65.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$1,047 ₱63.6K

256.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$223 ₱13.5K

210.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: June 8, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $234 in Iloilo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 211% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati versus $21.00 in Iloilo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $202 – making Iloilo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makati vs Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Makati and $1,032 in Iloilo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iloilo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati and $21.00 in Iloilo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,186 in Makati and $688 in Iloilo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Makati at $1,186. In Iloilo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iloilo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iloilo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.